Upper Division Requirements

Core, Major and Elective AIMS Courses

This course is designed to introduce students to the key concepts in MIS (Management Information Systems) and to enhance understanding of the issues that business organizations face when developing and managing information systems. The course will examine the fundamental principles associated with IT development and management and the increasing impact of information technology in business organizations. The field is in a state of flux, so the course will also examine emerging technologies and IT trends. By completing the course, students should be better equipped to make IT decisions, to participate in IT projects, and to communicate more knowledgeably with IT experts.

This course is intended for the student who wishes to become more proficient at developing and managing database applications. It is designed to provide an introduction to the conceptual foundations underlying database management systems, with an emphasis on its applications in business and organizations. The course begins with an introduction to the fundamental principles of database design-from data modeling to the actual implementation of a business application. Particular emphasis will be placed on the careful planning and analysis of business needs, which will lead to the appropriate development of an Entity-Relationship Model. Using these principles, each student will design and implement a database application using Access. This part of the course will employ lectures describing database theory, as well as hands-on tutorials demonstrating database concepts using Access. The second part of the course will further investigate the relational model, which is the basis for the most popular DBMS products on the marketplace today (i.e., Oracle, SQL Server, MS Access, Sybase). Topics to be studied include relational algebra, Structured Query Language (SQL), and maintaining data integrity in a relational design. In addition, important managerial concerns will be covered including database administration and the management of multi-user databases. No prior knowledge of database management systems is required, although a strong aptitude for computer-related work is helpful.

The course covers fundamental concepts in OO programming using the Java language. Objects represent entities in the real world with properties whose values define their states, and with methods that describe the operations that can be performed on the objects. Objects can interact with each other by sending and receiving messages among themselves. In Java, the objects are represented as program modules, which encapsulate some portion of the objects’ characteristics and operations or behavior. The course will tackle basic concepts dealing with object-oriented problem-solving and software development. Students will learn problem-solving skills and apply them to real-world program design and construction in the Java language.

This course is an introduction to programming with an emphasis on its business application capability. Students learn the basic techniques of programming from concepts to code. The objectives of this course are: making students comfortable with fundamental programming terminology and concepts, including data type, input/output, control statements methods, arrays, strings and files; giving students hands-on practical experience with modeling and problem solving; and illustrating to students how such models are translated into working business applications.

This course will introduce students to decision making and model building in the management of operations which create products and/or services. The principles of Operations Management apply throughout the world to all productive enterprises. It doesn’t matter if a good or a service is being produced, efficient production methods require the effective application of the concepts, tools, and techniques that are covered in this course. Hands-on learning is an important feature of the course. For each topic, a case analysis requires the use of Excel and/or other specialized operations management software to reinforce the underlying theoretical details.

The course covers fundamental concepts in OO programming using the Java language. Objects represent entities in the real world with properties whose values define their states, and with methods that describe the operations that can be performed on the objects. Objects can interact with each other by sending and receiving messages among themselves. In Java, the objects are represented as program modules, which encapsulate some portion of the objects’ characteristics and operations or behavior. The course will tackle basic concepts dealing with object-oriented problem-solving and software development. Students will learn problem-solving skills and apply them to real-world program design and construction in the Java language.

This course is an introduction to the use of data communications and other automation systems in the business environment, including the study of local and wide area networks, voice and electronic mail, video conferencing, and other automation tools in support of management.

This course introduces spreadsheet modeling skills and advanced quantitative analysis tools to support financial decision-making. Hands-on experience in the development of spreadsheet forecasting, simulation and optimization models for applications in valuation, cash budgeting, and financial planning and portfolio management will be provided.

This course will introduce students to Web-based Development using various web design and development software as well as programming languages. The emphasis is on the business use of the web and its integration with business strategy and activities along with developing skills in creating effective web sites. The course will teach the students the basics of web development and will introduce them to the Mobile Web and Mobile Application development. Students will also learn about the current developments taking place in this area.

Current management practices place an increasing dependence on the use of information to manage a business-business intelligence tools and systems play a critical role in this regard. To help managerial decision makers do their job effectively, it is necessary to understand the decision making process, the nature of data/information used in the decision making process and the role of information technology (in particular, business intelligence technologies) in that process. The course focuses on data mining, data warehousing and aspects of knowledge management along future directions and development of business intelligence tools in the context of business networks and collaborative online environments.

This course will introduce students to Information Technology Security in the corporate setting through various hands-on practice/experiments as well as Harvard Business School cases. The emphasis is on the business use of information security knowledge and its integration with business strategy and process along with developing skills in measuring information security, identifying security vulnerabilities, managing security risks, monitoring and preventing potential security breaches, and creating secured business practice procedures. The course will teach the students the basics of Information Technology Security and will introduce them to theory and technology of wireless network security, e-commerce security, securing online advertising as well as business continuity and disaster recovery.

This course will enable students to practice team-oriented problem-solving skills in the context of undertaking and completing a complex IT project, and to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of IT concepts and techniques in tackling analysis, design, and implementation of solutions to complex IT problems. The course will enable students to acquire and demonstrate their understanding, use, and proficiency in project management skills related to tackling IT projects, and to practice their written and oral communication skills in the write-up and presentation of their projects.

Students electing a B.S. in AIMS are required to take four courses in Computer Science.